Ballot-box



F NITED STAT-Es SOLOMON O. BROWN, OF MARSHFIELD, MISSOURI.

BALLoT-Box'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,994, dated January 2, 1894.

Application filed .Tune 30, 1893. Serial No. 479,278. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON O. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshield, in the county of Vebster and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Ballot-Box, of which the following is a specificaion.

The invention relates to improvements in ballot boxes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of ballot boxes and to provide a simple and inexpensive one which will enable a voter to cast readily either a white or black ball with absolute secrecy.

My invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a ballot box constructed in accordance with this invention, one of the lids being raised. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view. Fig.'3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4. is a horizontal sectional view.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a box or casing, preferably cubical or of other rectangular shape, and provided with a horizontal partition 2, to forma lower drawer compartment 3, and having a vertical longitudinally-disposed partition 4, arranged above the horizontal partition and forming a pair of upper compartments 5, adapted for the reception of white and black balls. The horizontal partition is provided at each side of the vertical partition with a discharge opening 6, and has mounted on it, at each side of the said vertical partition, a longitudinally-disposed slide 7, which is provided with a pocket opening 8, of circular shape conforming to the configuration of, and adapted, when the slide is pushed in, to register with the discharge opening to cause a ball to drop into a drawer 9. Each slide is arranged in a suitable way 10, and is held extended or projected beyond the box or casing by a horizontally-disposed spring 11, which engages a notch or recess at one side of the slide. The slide is provided at the inner terminus of its extended portion 12, which is reduced, with a shoulder 13, forming a stop to limit the Outward movement of the slide; and the length of the latter is such that when itis moved inward as far as possible with its inner end in contact with the back of the casingits pocket openingwill registerwith the discharge opening of the horizontal partition.

The drawer 9 is provided with alongitudinal partition 14, to divide it into two compartments to separate the balls and to enable the ballot to be ascertained at a glance, and to avoid picking the balls out and separating them after a ballot in returning the balls to the upper compartments. In cach upper compartment is arranged a supplemental partition 15, which forms a bottom for the compartment, and which has its upper face oppositely-inclined to direct the balls to an opening 16 in order that a ball may be always in the opening of the slide, whereby a vote will be cast each time the slide is moved inward. The inclinations of the upper face of the supplemental horizontal partition 15 may be formed by recessing the latter or by the addition of separate pieces, as shown.

In order to enable the slides to be readily distinguished, their extended portions, and the adjacent halves of the box or casing 1 and a shield 17, are painted respectively black and white, and a vertical projection 18 is interposed between the extended portions of the slides and has its edges oppositely beveled to facilitate the operation of the proper slide.

Each upper compartment is provided with a lid 19, and the shield 17 is rectangular and consists of sides 20, which are pivoted to the box or casing, and an end-piece 21, secured to the outer ends of the sides 20. The shield extends around the projecting portions of the slides and excludes the same from View to enable them to be operated with absolute secrecy; and it is pivotally mounted on the box or' casing and is adapted, when not in use, to be folded on top of the casing, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. When the shield is in operative position it is supported by lateral projections 22, extending from opposite sides of the drawer and formed by a horizontal strip secured to the front of the same.

It will be seen that the ballot box is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is positive and reliable in its operation, and that it enables either a black or white ball to be cast with absolute secrecy. It will also be apparent that the White and black balls are kept separated to facilitate the handling of the ballot box and to enable the character of v the ballot to be readily ascertained.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages ofv this invention.

1. Aballotbox comprisingacasingprovided with upper compartment and having a lower compartment provided with openings communicating with the upper compartments, spring-actnatedslides mounted in the casing and extended beyond the same and provided with openings, exposed to the upper compartments and adapted to register with the openings of the lower compartment, a drawer arranged in the lower compartment and provided with lateral projections, and a rectangular shield. pivotally mounted on the casing and adapted to rest upon said projections when in operative position and capable of folding on the casing when not in use, substantially as described.

2. A ballotbox comprisingacasing provided with upper compartments and having a lower compartment provided with openings com- 1n unicating with the upper compartments, spring-actuated slides mounted in the casing and extended beyond the same and provided with openings adapted to register with those of the lower compartment and exposed to the upper compartments, a guide interposed between the extended portions of the slides, a drawer having compartments, and a pivotally-mounted shield covering the extended portions ot the slides and excluding the same from view, said ballot box having one 'halt' painted white and the other half black, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Aballot box comprising a casing having separate upper ball compartments and provided with alower compartment, the separate slides mounted in the casing and projecting outward from the front thereof, and the pivotaily mounted shield extending around the front of the casing and covering the extended portions of the slides and concealing the same from View, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my s'gnatu rein the presence of two witnesses. Y

SOLOMON O. BROWN.

Vitnesses:

W. H, RUSH, HARRY FYAN. 

